Accelerator pedal depressor



Sept. 4, 1951 A. 1. SEELER 2,566,359

ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSOR Filed April 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

5 TE ER/NG COLUMN JNVENTOR.

ALL/AH [RV/m; JEELER ATTORNE Y P 4, 1951 A. 1. SEELER 2,566,859,

I ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSOR Filed April 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2JNVENTOR. All/AH /RV/A/6' 55am gnm+jm A TTORNE Y Patented Sept. 4, 1951UNITED STATE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSOR Alvah Irving Seeler, Euclid,Ohio, assignor to The Electric Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application April 2, 1948, Serial No. 18,612

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for controlling the position of theaccelerator pedal of an automotive vehicle, and is particularly adaptedfor use in conjunction with a chassis dynamometer.

In testing automobiles and trucks on chassis dynamometers, it iscustomary to operate the vehicles under various conditions of speed andload in order that a record of performance under different conditionscan be obtained. The usual chassis dynamometer is controlled from acontrol and instrument panel positioned beside the car being tested; thedynamometer operator stands at the control panel to make hisobservations and to control the load applied by the dynamometer.Accordingly, in order to obtain a series of readings at different speedsand loads, it has heretofore been necessary to have another operator inthe driver's seat of the vehicle being tested, whose duty is tomanipulate the throttle of the car to obtain the desired speeds at theloads determined by the dynamometer operator.

The present invention has for its general object the provision of asimple remote control device whereby the throttle of an automotivevehicle can be controlled accurately and easily from a position outsideof the vehicle, thus making it possible for the operator of a chassisdynamometer to control the operation of the engine of a vehicle beingtested from his station at the dynamometer control and instrument aneland eliminating the need for an operator in the driver's seat. Otherobjects of the invention are the provision of a simple, relativelyinexpensive device of this character; the provision of an acceleratorpedal depressor by means of which the position of the accelerator pedalof an automobile or truck can be adjusted accurately and quickly andretained in the desired position of adjustment; the provision of anaccelerator pedal depressor which canbe installed'quickly on anyconventional automobile or truck; and the pro vision of a simpleadjustable clamp whereby an accelerator pedal depressor can be supportedfrom the brake pedal of a conventional automobile or truck.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description of a preferred form thereof, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings; the essential characteristicsare summarized in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a preferred form of myaccelerator pedal depressor as viewed from the right when mounted in aconventional automobile; Figure 2 illustrates the device of Figure 1removed fromthe automobile and drawn on an enlarged scale with parts insection; Figure 3 is a view showing the side of the device that istoward the accelerator pedal when the device is in service; Figure 4 isa sectional detail as indicated by line l"4 of Figure 3; Figure 5-is' .aperspective showing the clamp and bracket for supporting the device fromthe brake pedal of the vehicle; and Figure 6 is a detail of theaccelerator pedal engaging member of the device.

As shown particularly inFigure 1, my device is adapted to be used inconjunction with a conventional automotive vehicle having floor boards II] and an accelerator pedal H pivotally supported as at l2 and providedwith a rod [3 leading to the throttle linkage whereby the throttle ofthe vehicle engine is opened when the pedal ll is'depr'essed, i. e.,moved about its pivot l2 toward the floor board [0. Theusual brake pedalM, which is conventionally supported on a shank I5, extends through thefloor board l0 and is connected with the brake actuating linkage (notshown). As is conventional, the brake pedal is immediately to the leftof the accelerator pedal.

In order to control the position 'of the accelerator pedal from a remotepoint, my accelerator pedal depressor is mounted on the pedal shank l5by means of a clamp H, the clamp carrying a supporting bracket IB whichcarries a transversely extending rod IS. The pedal depressor proper ismounted on the rod I 9 by means of a clamp 20 and comprises a housing2|; an extensible actuator indicated in general at 22 projects from thehousing and is provided with an end member 23 adapted to engage theaccelerator pedal H, the actuator being arranged to be extended orretracted to depress or release the accelerator by means including amotor within the housing, and other mechanism to be described in detailbelow.

Inorder to position the housing 2| so that the actuator 22 will extendto the accelerator pedal in proper position'for'op'eration with theactuator substantially normal to the upper surface of the pedal, themounting for the housing is made adjustable so that the device can beadapted to various makes and models of automobiles and trucks; As shownparticularly in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the clamp I1 is a channel sectionmember which is adapted to be slipped over the shank [5 of the brakepedal and secured thereto by means of thumb screws'25. The clamp can beslid along the shank IS in order to posiber as by welding or brazing andhas a portion 28 which extends upwardly away from the clamp, V a portion29 disposed at an angle to the partion 28, and a portion 30 whichextends clown.- wardly and rearwardly from the portion 29. By thisarrangement, the bracket. extends around the pedal H! as shown in Figure1 and avoids interference therewith.

The bracket I8 is disposed in substantially the same vertical plane asthe shank l5 and is, of

course, ofiset from the, accelerator pedal. 'In

order to position the housing so that the actuator 22, will .be infalignment with the accelerator pedal, the 'housingis adiustablysupported on' the rod 19; whichv extends. transversely. from the bracket13, one ,endzof the rod xbeing weldedyto the angularendportion :31of'ithe bracket. The

housing, as previously noted, supported .on the rod |91 by the .cl-ampflwhich is welded to the plate as, the platezbelng secured to the housingas by nuts and bolts 8!.

As shownin Ffigum'z, theclamp 2i] has a circular recess tQ-receiye therod 19, and is split as at 35 to give it resilience. The thumb screws325 are ,emp loved to tightencthe clamp .on the, rod 49. By thisarrangementjthe housing 2;! can besupported in the desired position withrespect to the accelerator pedal j I inasmuch as the'clamp 20 may beslidalong the rod: 1,9 to obtain the desired lateral :vpositioninghof thehousing with respect to the: acceleratorpedal, and may he r0.-

tated on the round .rod 45 tolocate the housing so that the actuator 22-wi-ll' .ex tendtoward; the accelerator pedal ins,- directionsubstantially ,nor-

, 7 mal thereto asshown in .Eig ure 1. Thus, they de,--

vice maybe adaptedato any. conventional auto;

mobileor truck, and thehousing-locatedin the proper position .meansroithe various adjustmentsdescribediaboya,

In order to advance and-retract the actuator22,1preferablyiemployitheimechanism shown-best in Figure 2,andcomprising-a small reversible electric motor -31 disposed within.thehousing 321 The operation of "the motor: may .be controlled by aconventional push-:buttoncontrol 38, ,connectd to the motor abyncable:3'9, and arran ed so that the motor can beoperated in'either direction;The motor incorporates a reduction gear of any conventionaldesignvinterposed between the motor armature-and thelshaft Asl whichpro.- jects: out of the housing: 2:I. -The :actuator 22 -.is made up ofa screw 43 having I 'a. recess --in one end thereof into\whichthe:.-shat14;| ;.projects, ,the shaft and screw 43 beine, securedto etherby a set screw 44. Assleeves4i5 is =te1escoped overithe screwand is--in threadedxengagement with the screw through the-nut 146 whichsis-secured to the sleeve-as=by welding. Y

- flhe member zih which engages-the accelerator pedal, is :securedt-totheend of the sleeve A5 opposite the nut--46; vthis lnember is mad'e up@of a l central member -49 lax-tending :within the sleeve 45*and securedthereto hy aipin 45.0, -a' transverse portion 5! and downwardly turnedleg portions 521 1The -transversesportiona5l engages the up per surfaceof the:accelerator pedaLland the end portions :52 are disposed on either:side thereof,

snain in contact with the member 23 and thus he thrciil i slgfie In use,the operator secures the clamp [1 to the hfiqalxsll aflkglqa a justs theclamp 20 to position the housingoso that the end 23 of the actuator '22is disposed in, correct relation to the accelerator pedal ll. Then, theoperation of the engine of the vehicle being tested can be controlledibythe push button control 38, which is disposed within convenient reach ofthe operator a h st t one h d eamem te centrp sw I sea r duction and cew riv makes-r 5 1: a ab t ad us men chil s nosi onic the accelera or'ecial eas toeqwmp ishfie aiis s th sc r ew and nut means for extendingthe ac.- t t th ac uate; r a n -in adi sie P sition in llitey ir hraiieso th yeliideensina ti l i at r din can h iq e'n d and-tbs yehiclefenginecan be correctly ,ad 'usted.

a u h s -l nd .mpd fi, at; a may h made in the preferred iorrn of the,invention ,disclbs'eld mminen assertin firom the sp ri andscopelthereoifl AccordinglyQit is to be understood that my patent is notlimited to the o e i d s l egg in enrma ia nthe -thee an? QP=9 ha eseeqdi aim I' claim? lfA device ,of the ,charaoter described corn,-

d dapied t9 a t r saidheu in redact d. ex sts and retract sai as ca e to-,de iss end rehesasaiq acce1e1jator-pe 1 A ev e o t e ha er ces zibediqmmir ns a lamp ada ted b s cured to -the shank of the bra e pe a ,o -anautomo which a bracket se ure jto the la p a rod pr e t n transverselyfrom the bracket, a housing adjust:- ablyrsupported onsaid rod a -acator e end n from said housing and ada ted t sn a e h ses celeratarpedal o he vehic a m o in aid housingadapted-to extendqand retract saidactuator todepr ss and release aid acce rator peda and r m e-con rolmeans a te s id mot d vice of the char cter dcscr h dc mr prisinsa ampadap d t :b secured to t e shank of thebrakesp d go an -aut mot v rshile, aracket se r d to: thei lamp; ai ed 1 mi ctins'itransverse y rom t ebracket a hou in adjustably supported on said rod, a reyersi-bleelectric m tor insa d li iis-ins, rem t cont means for said'motor; andan,ent nsih iac uator extending from'sa drh'ousins a d. ad ntedt on:

case the accelerator, peda o the v hicle; said said motor, the teth r-pfsaid. elements. hav ng a forked end portion adapted to engage theaccelerator pedal of the vehicle and to be prevented from rotationthereby, whereby operation of the motor in one direction causes saidactuator to be extended to depress said accelerator pedal and rotationinthe other direction causes said actuator to be retracted to release saidpedal.

4. A device of the character described comprising a housing, areversible electric motor within the housing, an actuator projectingfrom the housing and arranged to be extended and retracted by said motorand having an end portion adapted to engage the accelerator pedal of anautomotive vehicle, adjustable means adapted to be secured to the brakepedal of the vehicle for supporting said housing in such a position thatthe end portion of said actuator engages the accelerator pedal with theactuator disposed substantially normal to the upper surface of theaccelerator pedal, and means for controlling said motor from a pointoutside of said vehicle.

ALVAH IRVING SEELER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 696,901 Fairchild Apr. 1, 19021,500,365 Carlton July 8. 1924 1,790,851 Weaver Feb. 3, 1931 2,202,585Jordan May 28, 1940 2,270,735 Knudsen Jan. 20, 1942 2,367,033 Lear Jan.9, 1945 2,400,224 Christensen et a1. May 14, 1946 2,403,092 Lear July 2,1946 2,422,495 Morrow June 17, 1947

